Yule have seen this: 59% of BBC Xmas shows are repeats

THE BBC was criticised when nearly half of last year’s Christmas offerings were repeats.

And it seems the corporation has not learnt its lesson, with 59 per cent of programmes scheduled for BBC1 and BBC2 over the festive period set to be re-runs.

While millions of families gather around their televisions, they will find 301 shows on the channels have been shown before, including The Vicar of Dibley, Porridge and Dad’s Army.

It is also filling the hours with tired old favourites such as Mary Poppins, Cinderella and Chicken Run.

For BBC2 alone, the number of repeats rises to 74 per cent, with 209 re-runs out of 282 shows to be screened from December 22 to January 4.

On Christmas Day, viewers will be offered 1955 movie Guys and Dolls, as well as Dad’s Army.

But two of the three Morecambe And Wise Show re-runs scheduled for Boxing Day have not been seen for 50 years after tapes that had gone missing were found in a derelict cinema in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, 43 per cent of programmes on BBC1 will be repeats, when excluding BBC news and weather.

The initial Christmas schedule put out by the broadcaster, which has not yet been confirmed, will see BBC1 viewers tuning in to a re-run of Outnumbered, as well as 2011 film My

Week with Marilyn. However, it isn’t all old hat.

Original productions to be shown include the BBC1/Netflix adaptation of Watership Down featuring James McAvoy and Gemma Arterton on December 22 and 23. And John Malkovich’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot in The ABC Murders will run at 9pm for three nights from Boxing Day.

Other original offerings over the festive holiday include Les Miserables, starring Olivia Colman and Lily Collins, and a Call The Midwife Christmas special.

Ofcom ruled last year that – under a new operating licence – 90 per cent of peak shows and 75 per cent of all BBC1 and BBC2 programmes had to be original productions commissioned by the broadcaster.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘More than 90 per cent of BBC1’s peaktime schedule is new this year.’ And he insisted: ‘Viewers love a few old favourites at Christmas as well.’